SCRIPTURE:
“He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it. The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’ ‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’ The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’ His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’ Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’ His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’”
Luke 19:15-23
OBSERVATION:
As the nobleman returned and called his servants to account on how they invested what they were given to steward, their responses are indicative of the principle of stewardship. The parable represents how we steward God’s gift of redemption and eternal life to us, to others, which is the call and assignment for us to steward. It also represents our gifts and talents that we’ve been blessed with.
APPLICATION:
As someone who came from a family with meager means, financial stewardship ran and runs through my Chinese veins, having been thrust into corporate business right out of college; and now having the honor to steward God’s calling and finances for our church for His Kingdom purposes.
It is indeed about our stewardship of what we’ve been blessed with, and the balance between what would be catalytic, measurable, versus squandering away what we’ve been given. In business, ROI or return on investment is a key to success. In ministry, ROI is measured by salvations, changed lives, and transformation, rather than transactions. That is where I need to seek God’s guidance in how I best lead and pastor. Perhaps it is a focus less on what is going out, but who will come into the Kingdom because of prudent investment in people’s lives through Jesus.
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, please guide me in my stewardship of all you’ve blessed me with and all that you call me to do in serving you and serving other with the talents, gifts, and resources you’ve given me.
